Figueroa not good enough - Sullivan

Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan has admitted that manager Steve Bruce did not think Argentinian striker Luciano Figueroa was “good enough” to play in the Barclaycard Premiership after the St Andrews club cut their losses on the summer signing.

Blues splashed £2.5m (€3.6m) on the Rosario Central striker but Figueroa has hardly featured in a Birmingham shirt for the first team.

The midlands club’s decision to let Figueroa leave has freed him to join Mexican side Cruz Azul who have paid an undisclosed nominal fee for his services.

Despite finding the target for the reserves niggling injuries and the form of Birmingham front men Mikael Forssell, Christopher Dugarry and Clinton Morrison has seen Figueroa’s chances limited.

After beating fellow Premiership clubs Wolves and Bolton to sign Figueroa, Birmingham cancelled his contract on Monday and Sullivan has admitted the board followed manager Bruce’s lead.

Sullivan told the Birmingham Mail: “Steve didn’t think he was good enough or big enough to play in the Premiership and you have to respect your manager’s judgement.

“Maybe had he got in the team and scored a couple of goals things might have turned round but it wasn’t to be.”

Blues have also let Belgian goalkeeper Nico Vaesen join First Division Gillingham on loan for a month to boost his return from a knee injury.

Defender Mathew Sadler has had his loan to Northampton Town extended by a further month.